MOTORSPORT: Verstappen wins as Ferrari falters

Momentum has continued to swing in favour of the Red Bull Racing pair of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who claimed a convincing one-two result in yesterday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after both Ferraris fell by the wayside with mechanical issues.

Ultimately, Verstappen romped unchallenged to a 20sec victory, the 25th GP success of his Formula 1 career, in the process extending his championship lead on the back of five wins to date in 2022.

“I think today we had an incredible pace in the car, we could really look after the tyres and we could chip away at it, [and] pass for the lead,” said Verstappen.

“But then, of course, also maybe a tiny bit lucky with the retirement, but I think nevertheless our car was really good today, so I could have closed that gap.”

Meanwhile for Perez, a misunderstanding on a pit call under virtual safety car proved costly, with subsequent high tyre degradation curtailing his chances.

“There was some miscommunication and once we wanted it, it was a bit too late, and we were a bit unlucky there because that would have made up our race when we were leading,” said Perez.

“So, at the end of the day, we managed to do a one-two so that's a great team result.”

The race started strongly for the Red Bulls when Perez swept into the race lead at the first corner, with polesitter Charles Leclerc settling his Ferrari into second.

The first major drama of the race fell on the ninth lap when Carlos Sainz retired his Ferrari with hydraulic failure, necessitating a brief virtual safety car appearance, while Verstappen made his move into the lead past Perez on lap 15 of 51.

Leclerc made a fleeting return to the top of the timing charts when Verstappen pitted, although a comprehensive power unit failure relegated him to the pits, his second failure to finish in the last three races.

The virtual safety car slowed the field once again late when Kevin Magnussen retired his Haas on circuit, which saw strategies mixed throughout the field for the run home.

George Russell capitalised on the attrition around him to claim his third podium finish for Mercedes so far this year, leading home stablemate Lewis Hamilton for the seventh straight race, who was classified fourth.

Pierre Gasly showed podium promise before fading to fifth in his AlphaTauri, ahead of Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine).

For Daniel Ricciardo, the weekend saw him return to points paying competitiveness, with his second top-10 finish of the season.

After shadowing his McLaren teammate Lando Norris on the results sheets for final practice and qualifying, his crew were able to take advantage of the final virtual safety car period to place the Australian on the softer compound medium tyres to the finish.

With Norris ordered to stay in line for the closing laps, the duo were scored eighth and ninth, ahead of Esteban Ocon in the second Alpine.

The Formula 1 season continues next weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with the Canadian Grand Prix.

2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix results:

2022 Formula 1 championship standings: